TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 Sweet Victory Is Ours

2THE BAYLOR LARIATTUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010OPINIONBaylor: pursuing research,committed to faithWhen board members and administrators from Baylor Universityand the Baylor College of Medicinewere recently engaged in conversation about the possibility ofstrengthening ties between the twoinstitutions, some suggested thatthe faith component of Baylor University’s mission would negativelyaffect the quality of the scholarshipfor which the Baylor College ofMedicine is so well known.As scientists and people of faith,we were troubled by reports in themedia that characterized serious scientific research and a faithcommitment as incompatible. Webelieve we speak for thousands ofaccomplished scientists when wesay that this is a false dichotomyterrestrial and marine ecosystems.Similarly, the science content ofour curricula is no different fromthat offered in science departmentsat other major universities.The research faculty at BaylorUniversity embraces the scientificmethod and the tenets of evolutionto explain what we observe in thenatural world.We hire world-class teacherswho conduct meaningful researchthat informs their teaching at theundergraduate and graduate levels.Our faculty members hold prestigious government grants fromthe National Science Foundation,National Institutes of Health andDepartment of Energy.They publish in Science, Nature“Baylor’s success is reflected not only in thediscovery of knowledge through ourpublications but also in the accomplishmentsof our graduates as physicians, academicians,engineers, politicians and business leaders,many of whom are already part of the nationalconversation on so many issues important to thefuture of our country.”that reflects an ill-informed understanding of the way many of usperceive the wonder, mystery andrevelation of God.Like so many in the scientific community, we celebrated theremarkable and historic work ofDr. Francis Collins, director of theNational Human Genome ResearchInstitute, when, in 2003, he and hiscolleagues reported their landmarkfindings. And those of us in the scientific community who maintain anactive faith life were not surprisedwhen Collins later wrote in hisbook The Language of God:“Will we turn our backs onscience because it is perceived as athreat to God, abandoning all of thepromise of advancing our understanding of nature and applyingthat to the alleviation of sufferingand the betterment of humankind?Alternatively, will we turn ourbacks on faith, concluding thatscience has rendered the spirituallife no longer necessary, and thattraditional religious symbols cannow be replaced by engravings onthe double helix of our altars?“Both of these choices areprofoundly dangerous. Both denytruth. Both will diminish the nobility of humankind. Both will be devastating to our future. And both areunnecessary. The God of the Bibleis also the God of the genome. Hecan be worshipped in the cathedralor in the laboratory. His creationis majestic, awesome, intricate,and beautiful-and it cannot be atwar with itself. Only we imperfecthumans can start such battles. Andonly we can end them.”Having religious convictionsdoes not preclude us from exploring the universe, advancing humanhealth or discovering solutionsto the environmental issues thatplague us — including in the Houston area, where Baylor Universityresearchers are studying waterpollution near the Ship Channelto understand how cancer-causingdioxins and furans spread betweenand a wide array of other outstanding journals, and have doctoratesfrom some of the world’s pre-eminent academic institutions.Scientists at Baylor Universityare committed to the standards ofthe professional guilds and the scientific community at large. Baylor’ssuccess is reflected not only in thediscovery of knowledge throughour publications but also in theaccomplishments of our graduates as physicians, academicians,engineers, politicians and businessleaders, many of whom are alreadypart of the national conversationon so many issues important to thefuture of our country.We and our colleagues at BaylorUniversity are acknowledgednational and international scholars who are unapologetic in ourfaith. There is no necessary conflictinherent in the pursuit of scientific inquiry within the context ofour faith commitment. While weremain true to our Christian faithand institutional mission, our research is leading to new discoveriesregarding the human condition andthe natural world.Student loan bill deserves moreattention than it’s being givenWith Sunday’s 219-212 votein favor of the heavily-debatedhealth care reform bill, theHouse has now sent all amendmentsmade by House members to the Senate for final approval. Within thoseamendments is one that strikes close tohome: student loan reform. However,with the ruckus the health care reformbill caused, not enough debate or timewas given to the issue of student loansand the Senate should deny the Houseamendment to the health care bill.Representatives’ decision to includestudent loan reform was a tactic toattract more votes affirming the healthcare bill — it was not an additionmade sincerely for the sake of struggling college students. Normally thefirst financial burdens that studentstake on, student loans are not mattersto be mishandled. Changes to studentloans deserve to be fairly debated anda chance to succeed in both houses ofCongress.The new plan for student loanswould end the current bank-based system of lending and funnel all studentloan participants through the U.S.Department of Education.According to an article from theChronicle of Higher Education, the newbill would allow nonprofit loan providers from several states to still operateand would allow some for-profit lenders to be selected through a “competitive selection process.”The change is meant to encouragelower interest rates and to bolster fundsfor the Federal Pell Grant Program.However, since the plan makesstudents go through the governmentfor all loans, many are crying foul andbelieve the switch would extend government’s hand deeper into Americans’personal lives; a stance that holds muchweight.This article was submitted byBaylor University professors GregoryBenesh, chair, department of physics; Susan Bratton, chair, department of environmental science; JaimeDiaz-Granados, chair, department ofpsychology and neuroscience; RobertDoyle, chair, department of biology;Steven G. Driese, chair, department ofgeology; Patrick Farmer, chair, department of chemistry and biochemistry;Truell Hyde, vice provost for research;Larry Lyon, dean of the graduateschool; and Lee Nordt, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.A copy of this column ran in theHouston Chronicle on March 4, 2010.Due to its topic, The Lariat EditorialBoard felt it should be ran specificallyfor the attention of Baylor family. It isreprinted with the permission of all theauthors.Corrections PolicyThe Baylor Lariat is committed toensuring fair and accurate reportingand will correct errors of substanceon Page 2.Corrections can be submitted tothe editor by sending an e-mail toLariat letters@baylor.edu or by calling 254-710-4099.Opinion PolicyThe Baylor Lariat welcomes readerviewpoints through letters to theeditor and guest columns. Opinions expressed in the Lariat arenot necessarily those of the Bayloradministration, the Baylor Board ofRegents or the Student PublicationsBoard.Letters PolicyLetters to the editor should includethe writer’s name, hometown, major, graduation year, phone numberand student identification number.Non-student writers should includetheir address. Letters that focuson an issue affecting students orfaculty may be considered for aguest column at the editor’s discretion. The Lariat reserves the rightto edit letters for grammar, length,libel and style. Letters should bee-mailed to Lariat Letters@baylor.edu.EditorialAccording to the Education Department’s Web site, the Federal Pell GrantProgram “provides need-based grantsto low-income undergraduate andcertain post-baccalaureate studentsto promote access to postsecondaryeducation.”However, what is not clear is howthis change will affect those who do notqualify for a Pell Grant. If the change ismeant to give more money to the Federal Pell Grant Program, will non-PellGrant students suffer?Before this issue is decided inCongress, it should be considered morethoroughly. Though access to higheducation for low-income students isimportant, the rising cost of attendingcollege is also hurting the middle class.According to a Thursday articlefrom the Chronicle of Higher Education, the estimated savings from thischange was 87 billion in the last 10years.“Delays since then left lawmakersfacing a new estimate of about 87 billion over 10 years,” the article stated.That 20 billion loss will be accounted for by cuts to the proposedfunding for community colleges andlowering the amount of money lent tolow-income students.Delays to this bill have already coststudents money and because the Housedecided to attach the student loan billto the health care bill, beneficial debateand changes to student loan policywere non-existent. Students are proneto lose even more if the Senate passesthe student loan amendment withoutseriously considering the consequences.The final plan that was outlinedincluded aspects to help various sections of higher education: 255 millionwould go to historically black collegesand 750 million over fiveyears would go toward theCollege Access Challenge,a program that helps states encourageunderrepresented students to attendcollege.Though reduced, the bill would stillallocate 2 billion over 10 years to community colleges.According to the Chronicle ofHigher Education, the bill would cutthe monthly payments on federallysubsidized student loans from the current 15 percent of a person’s monthlyincome to 10 percent.Another aspect of the proposedchanges: the bill allots 10 billion to bedirectly returned to the U.S. Treasury inan effort to reduce the American deficitand another 9 billion would go towardoffsetting the bills attached health carereform.The student loan bill, though raisingsome questions, has many appealingqualities.It is a piece of legislation thatcould greatly affect America’s college students. As such, it should havebeen handled with greater care andemphasis. There are still problems inthe proposed amendment, such as hownon-Pell grant students will benefitfrom the bill and whether non-PellGrant students would lose money ifmore money goes to the Pell Grantrecipients?A similar student loan bill shouldbe presented to Congress as a standalone document in order to promoteeffective dialogue on the necessity ofstudent loan reform.Unfortunately, placing the bill inconjunction with the health care bill didnot offer a fair chance for student loanpolicies to be changed for the greatergood. We have already rammed healthcare reform through — let’s not do theSubscriptionsA subscription to the Lariat costs 45 for two semesters. Send check or money order to One Bear Place #97330, Waco, TX,76798-7330 or e-mail Lariat ads@baylor.edu. Visa, Discover and MasterCard payments may be phoned to 254-710-2662. Postmaster: Please send address changes to above address.The Baylor LariatStaff MembersEditor-in-chiefLiz Foreman*Copy desk chiefOlga BallCity editorSommer Ingram*Editorial cartoonistClaire Taylor*Photo editorJed DeanOpinion editorBrittany Hardy*Sports editorJustin BaerPhotographersDaniel CerneroNews editorNick Dean*Sports writersChris DerrettEntertainment editorJessica Acklen*Web editorAsst. city editorJonathan AngelSarah RafiqueSara TirritoMelanie CrowsonStaff writersCaty HirstLaura RemsonDeliveryDoug KimballAmber BorchardtMultimediaRyan ShookSarah GromanMatthew HellmanMatt LarsenCopy editorCourtney WhiteheadAdvertising salesVictoria CarrollAaron Fitzgerald* denotes editorial boardmemberPlease Recycle This Issuewww.BAYLORLARIAT.com 2010, Baylor University

NEWSTHE BAYLOR LARIATTUESDAY, MARCH 23, 20103Health care bill received with mixed attitudesBy Sara TirritoStaff WriterBarack Obama is slated tosign the health care reform billinto law today, even without adecision from the Senate on therevisions package approved bythe House on Sunday.The law would give coverageto 32 million more people thanare currently covered and wouldensure that even those with preexisting medical conditions canget the care they need.Reactions to the passage ofthe bill have been mixed.In a statement posted o

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